Autonomy, Accountability, and

Continuous Improvement

Across the nation school districts are beginning to transform the high
school experience by starting new small high schools or by breaking down
their large high schools into Smaller Learning Communities (SLCs).

Critical to the success of this high school transformation will be:

Autonomy for the new SLCs and SmallSchools

Accountability for student achievement by all SLCs
and SmallSchools

Continuous Improvement of all SLCs and SmallSchools through ongoing quality
monitoring and support

While the high schools are the impetus for designing and implementing a
new system of autonomy, accountability, and continuous improvement, careful
attention must be paid by school districts to build the culture of accountability
systemwide. This can best be accomplished by implementing
an accountability system from pre-K through Grade 12 and by involving key
stakeholders—teachers, principals, central administrators, community representatives,
parents, and students, in the design and development of the new system.

Below are resources that capture the best practices nationwide by school
districts in designing and implementing autonomy, accountability, and continuous
improvement systems.